Brackenbury fort

The fort itself is long gone, but what remains at Brackenbury is something far better - a proper slice of Suffolk's wild coastline given over entirely to nature. This is no manicured visitor attraction. It's a working nature reserve where the scrub, heath and grassland do their thing without much fussing about. You'll spot gorse, heather, and if you're lucky, the odd adder basking on warmer days. The coastal location means seabirds are a constant - gulls, terns, the lot.

Walkers get the most from this place. There's no fixed circuit, just open access to ramble through the reserve and take in the views towards the North Sea. The ground is uneven in places and can get waterlogged after rain, so proper boots aren't optional. You're looking at an hour, maybe ninety minutes, depending on how much you want to poke about.

Historically minded visitors might find the Iron Age fort story interesting enough, though there's precious little to actually see on the ground these days. The real appeal is the habitat itself - it's quietly important for wildlife conservation along this stretch of coast.

Being barely two miles from Felixstowe Beach Holiday Park and Peewit Caravans makes it a solid half-day outing from either site. The weather on the Suffolk coast can turn quickly, so pick a decent day and bring a windproof. It won't take long to work out if you're the type who finds this sort of raw, unglamorous reserve rewarding.